HR008A Challengers Application Pack

Thank you for applying to work at Challengers…

Contents

Guidance notes for completing your application form

The Challengers Approach

Job Description……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..3

Application form...... 5

Guidance notes for completing your application form

All applicants must use a Challengers Application Form to apply. The information you provide in your application form is used by us when we decide whether or not you will be selected to attend an interview and also as a basis for the interview itself. Your application form is, therefore, very important and we give the following advice to help you complete it as effectively as possible.

Equal Opportunities and Disclosure section will be detached from the rest of the application form and kept in a confidential/secure place. This will ensure an unbiased/unprejudiced selection of candidates in line with equality, diversity principles and good practice.

Online version of the application form

You may have been emailed the application form or downloaded it from the Challengers website.

You can ‘tab’ through the fields and type to enter the relevant details.

Use you space bar or mouse clicks to ‘check’ the ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ boxes.

If you email your completed form to Challengers, you will need to sign the printed version held at our offices.

Job Description

Look carefully at the Job Description. This gives details of the skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience which we require. Please read this carefully before completing the application form, so that you know what the job involves and the range of expertise needed.

Employment History

When listing your employment history you should ensure that the dates are correct and in the right order and that there are no gaps. Please let us know what you were doing during any periods without paid employment.

Supporting Information

Address all the points on the job description and outline your experience and skills substantiating your statement with examples and evidence. Can you show you meet the requirements for the job? By looking at your past and present experience you may identify “hidden” skills that you might have taken for granted. This includes any relevant experience gained through your community, voluntary, leisure, family or home interests.

Ask yourself why you are interested in the job, it can be useful to list these reasons and refer to them. Is the job you wish to apply for a promotion or is it a good employment or career move? Could it broaden or give you greater experience?

Place the information in a logical order and make sure that you have included everything you need to.

If you need to continue onto another sheet please attach this to the application form with your name clearly marked at the top.You may enclose additional information if you so wish.

References

You are asked for the names and addresses (including the postcode) of two people we can contact for references. You should give your present or most recent employer or, if you are a student, an appropriate academic reference should be given. You cannot use members of your family as referees.

If you need help

If you need assistance to complete the form, let us know and we will be pleased to help – call 01483 579 390 or email

The Challengers Approach

Please read The Challengers Approach carefully – this is our ethos and it is very important that you understand it and be committed to the aims of our organisation.

Our Vision

An environment where facilities are provided for disabled and non-disabled children and young people to play and have fun together, thereby changing the way that society regards and treats disabled young people generation after generation.

Our Mission

To provide a broad range of play, leisure, respite and short breaks thus giving support to disabled children and young people, their family and friends.

The Challengers Approach

  • To enable children to challenge their impairments through play in a stimulating and safe environment.
  • To provide suitable care for disabled children and young people whatever their impairment with appropriate knowledge, skill, competence, initiative and sensitivity.
  • To create an atmosphere where self-expression, co-operation, learning and sharing are encouraged, nurtured and supported.
  • To create a welcoming and supportive environment and proactively enable young people and their families who use Challengers to participate in the planning and development of our services.
  • We never exclude a child on the grounds of the severity of their impairment and we do not set geographical limits - play and leisure opportunities for disabled young people are few and disabled people seldom have a local resource.
  • To positively discriminate in favour of disabled young people while inequality of provision exists.
  • To uphold and encourage freedom of choice for the individual and so we aim to provide both Exclusive and Inclusive programmes in the communities in which we work.
  • To treat each other with respect and consideration.
  • To accept responsibility for one’s own actions.
  • To conduct all our affairs with regard to individual differences.
  • To be sensitive to everyone’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
  • To examine what we do and continually try to improve.

JOB DESCRIPTION - Operations: PROJECT Manager

Reporting to: Services Manager

ACCOUNTABLE to: The Board of Trustees

Liaise with: Operations Team, Head of Quality, parents and carers, statutory and voluntary organisations

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Main purpose

  • To develop and provide operational support so that Challengers play and leisure schemes are high quality, safe and fun.
  • To take an active part in the Play and Leisure Team to maintain and develop a range of high quality play and leisure opportunities for disabled children and young people.
  • To promote and celebrate positive play and leisure experiences for disabled children and young people.
  • Line management of scheme Leader team.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

What the job involves

  • Be a role model for play and youth work for all children and young people and Challengers staff and have an enthusiasm for positive play and leisure experiences.
  • Support, develop and manage a range of Challengers play, youth and young adult schemes ensuring that all settings provide happy, fun and safe play and leisure experiences for disabled children and young people.
  • Ensure schemes are delivered according to Challengers policy and procedure as well statutory regulatory standards, including Ofsted and any other recognised good practice.
  • As necessary contribute to and identify any development/improvement for delivery, systems or policies.
  • Provide line management to scheme Leaders and, when necessary, scheme Deputy Leaders – including supervision, appraisal, induction and support to Leaders, so that they have the resources and preparation to deliver Challengers schemes.
  • Deliver high quality activity programmes which children and young people enjoy and that staff teams are able to and have the resources to deliver.
  • Ensure that schemes have the right number of staff with the right training and qualifications for the children and young people attending. Staff rotas should be planned in accordance with Challengers policy (eg safeguarding) and regulatory standards (eg Ofsted and EYFS).
  • Ensure schemes have the right child information and plans so that staff teams have information to support the child/young person so that they are happy and safe using Challengers policy and procedure.
  • Ensure schemes have resources, equipment and materials to deliver schemes.
  • Project Managers must be prepared and be able to work on and deliver schemes/projects for disabled children and young people – eg covering Leader absence or delivering face-to-face play or youth work.
  • After successful training, to drive adapted mini-buses for play and youth work projects and schemes.
  • Use skills and knowledge to support development of Challengers services and to support Head of Quality to delivery training when and if necessary.
  • Ensure that scheme administration is completed and managed efficiently and effectively – according to Challengers policy and good practice.
  • Working with the Operations Office Team so that scheme administration and key scheme information is received by agreed deadlines.
  • Take bookings in key booking periods.
  • Maintain a safe place for children and young people, staff and visitors at all times in accordance with the Challengers safeguarding, Health & Safety policy and procedure.
  • Represent Challengers vision, mission and approach to children, young people, families, staff and any other outside agency – including being able to articulate
  • With your line manager report to, contribute and participate to the Head of Operations or Operations Team meetings so that Challengers services are the best they can be.
  • Any other duties as shall from time to time be required by the Chief Executive Officer.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualities, character, attitude and experience expected Challengers staff
To conduct yourself and represent the Charity in a manner which reflects all the values of The Challengers Approach.

Essential requirements

  • Experience working with children and/or young people.
  • An understanding of the importance of all children’s need to play and how play and youth work staff can support children and young people to do so.
  • The enthusiasm to play – the ability to demonstrate play and youth work in practice when face to face with children, young people and staff.
  • The ability to develop and sustain effective and professional relationships - to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing with colleagues, other professionals, parents and carers and other agencies.
  • Ability to develop and work independently (eg at home or remotely) as well as within a team,
  • Familiarity and ability to use common computer/office based applications.
  • An understanding of health and safety and child and adult safeguarding good practice and how to apply it.
  • The ability to prioritise tasks, apply common sense and good judgement.
  • A clear understanding and commitment to The Challengers Approach and the Social Model of Disability.
  • A commitment to Equal Opportunities and the development of inclusion and diversity at Challengers schemes and in the workplace.
  • An ability to drive and a willingness to use own car for work related travel and a willingness to drive our minibus (training provided).
  • Learn new skills and attend training agreed with line manager.

Desirable requirements

  • Experience of delivering innovative high quality play or youth work with disabled children and young people.
  • Experience managing people or teams.
  • Educated to NVQ level 4 / degree level or equivalent.
  • Possession of an OFSTED suitable person assessment or the commitment to achieve this.
  • Skills in delivering training and staff development.
  • Understanding of the issues facing disabled children and young people, their families and carers and of issues surrounding social exclusion.
  • Experience of working with or supporting disabled children and young people, their families and carers.
  • Experience of setting up and managing projects.
  • Willingness to drive our minibus (training provided).

Application Form

Complete this form and return it byemail to orpost it to HR at Challengers, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU (remember if you use a large envelope you will need a large letter stamp).

Challengers office use only
Date entered: / Interview / Our Ref:
which post are you applying for?
Name of job role / Project Manager / Date:
Title (Miss/Mrs/Mr/other) / Forename: / Surname:
Postal address
Town
Postcode
Email address*
Home Tel / Mobile / Other Tel
* Please note we do most of our communication via email.
Age - Optional / Date of Birth
(optional)
Nat Ins No
Other details
How did you find out about this vacancyprior to visiting our website?
Do you hold a full driving licence? / YesNo
Do you have use of a car? / YesNo
If required do you have a permit to work in the UK? / Yes No
Health Declaration
Do you know of any health reasons which would prevent you from carrying out the duties intrinsic to this position as outlined in the job description? / Yes
No
If you ticked ‘yes’, please give details and supply information of any adjustments you will need to make in order to carry out these duties.
DISCLOSURE DECLARATION (This section must be completed)
The position for which you are applying potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with children and is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. This means that you must disclose details of any convictions, bindover orders or police cautions, warnings or reprimands, including those which are considered “spent” under the terms of the Act. Please use the Disclosure Form at the end of this Application Form if this applies to you. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly.
do you need to complete the disclosure form? Yes No
If Yes please complete the section on the last page of this form

Please supply any certificates or documents which are relevant to this role

Education and Qualifications (including current course if applicable)
Date from / Date to / College/University / Qualification & date if applicable
Training – Please provide copies of any relevant certificates
Date / Course/Certificate / Awarding body
Employment History
Give details of all previous employments, full and part time, paid or unpaid.
List in order, starting with the most recent first.
Explain any breaks in your employment history.
Date from / Date to / Name & address of employer / Job title and duties / Salary and reason for leaving
Supporting information - this section must be completed
Please tell us why you are applying for this role, plus any relevant experience to support your application with particular reference to the job description.
This statement is crucial to further consideration of your application.
References – Please note:
Please supply FULL contact details of two people who will provide a reference for you. Please do not supply both from the same place of work or education.
ONE MUST BE FROM YOUR CURRENT OR MOST RECENT EMPLOYER OR, IF YOU ARE A FULL-TIME STUDENT, FROM YOUR PLACE OF EDUCATION.
Referees may NOT be members of your family.
Referee 1
Title (Miss/Mrs/Mr/other): / Forename: / Surname:
Relationship to you:
Organisation:
Postal address:
Postcode:
Email (essential): / Daytime phone:
May we contact this person now? / Yes No
Referee 2
Title (Miss/Mrs/Mr/other): / Forename: / Surname:
Relationship to you:
Organisation:
Postal address:
Postcode:
Email (essential): / Daytime phone:
May we contact this person now? / Yes No
Please read and sign this section
I confirm that the information which I have given is true and complete.*
I consent for Challengers to carry out the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and to monitor status of a check on line using the DBS Update Service if this is subscribed to.
I have read and understand the job description and The Challengers Approach.
Signed: / Date:

* Any false statements or omissions may result in dismissal.

If you have emailed this form to Challengers, you will need to sign a printed version at interview.

NB: Please complete the Equal Opportunities Section on the following page and, only if applicable to you, the Disclosure.

Equal opportunities monitoring
Challengers is committed to achieving a Play and Leisure service which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful or unfair discrimination. Our policy covers all aspects of our operations, including recruitment. Please complete this part of the form. This information will be used only in order to monitor our recruitment processes and prevent unfair discrimination on any grounds.
Forename: / Surname:
MaleFemale
DisabledNon-Disabled
How would you describe your ethnic background?
White / British
Irish
Other White background / Dual heritage / White & Black Caribbean
White & Black African
White and Asian
Other Mixed background
Asian or Asian British / Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Other Asian background / Black or Black British / Black Caribbean
Black African
Other Black background
Chinese / Chinese / Other ethnic group or background / Please feel free to expand or specify:
disclosure
The position for which you are applying potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with children and is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
If you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198, please complete the information below and return it with your application. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly.For more information on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act please go to:
Title (Miss, Mrs, Mr, other): / Forename: / Surname:
Postal address:
Postcode:
Details about your criminal record:
Date / Nature of Offence / Place offence occurred and Court which issued conviction if applicable / Details of conviction, bindover caution or warning
I declare that the above information is accurate and complete.
Signed: / Date:

It is our policy to employ the most suitable personnel and ensure equality of opportunity in the advancement of employees and not to discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, race, national origin, sex, marital status, disability or sexuality.

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Challengers, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU | 01483 579 390 |

Registered Charity No. 1095134, A Charitable Company limited by guarantee No. 4300724